SF Giants top 2023 draft pick has huge 2024 debut with San Jose

SF Giants top 2023 draft pick Bryce Eldridge began the year with San Jose but will he finish the year in Low-A? That question will not be answered after one game, but the left-handed bat had a huge 2024 debut with San Jose on Friday night.

SF Giants top 2023 draft pick has huge 2024 debut with San Jose

Many of the Giants' top draft picks from last year's draft are beginning the year in Low-A along with Eldridge. This includes pitcher Joe Whitman and a pair of middle infielders in Maui Ahuna and Cole Foster. All four prospects were drafted within the first five rounds of last year's draft.

Eldridge was originally selected as a two-way player but the Giants quickly moved off of that idea in spring training. He performed well enough at the plate in his pro debut last season that the club felt that focusing on being a position player was the best and fastest path to reach the majors.

It might be too soon to be talking about Eldridge becoming a major league player. After all, he was facing high school pitchers at this time last season. That said, the 19-year-old has quickly risen up the prospect lists, ranking as high as No. 57 according to Baseball America before this season. There is a good chance that he becomes the Giants' top prospect by the end of the year.

So far, Eldridge is off to a good start. On Friday night against the Fresno Grizzlies, he had a booming 2024 debut. In four at-bats, he recorded two hits including his first home run of the season:

It should not be that easy to hit an opposite field home run, especially for someone who is less than a year removed from high school. Eldridge added a double as well against the Grizzlies.

For Eldridge, playing for San Jose is a return to familiar territory. He earned a promotion to Low-A late last season and performed well when you factor in that he was facing competition much older competition. In 69 plate appearances with San Jose, the power bat slashed .293/.406/.379 with one home run, five RBI, and seven runs. He is looking to build off of his solid pro debut and is off to a good start in the early going.